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Safe Streets! Open Trails!There has been a great deal of time, effort, and emotion spent in our
town over the last several weeks on the subject of bicycles. Specifically, we have seen a
lot of dialogue about whether bicycles belong on the roads of our community. Obviously, as
members of the Chattanooga Bicycle Club, we know that our bikes belong on the roads. But
how can we get that message out to a broader audience? Let’s think seriously about
the reasons why we’re even having this debate. In this article and others to follow,
we’ve taken some bike advocacy ideas from the Bikes
Belong! campaign (Bicycle Federation of America), and adapted them to
our local needs and realities. We cannot pursue the strategy of building 20th century road systems in the 21st century. We need to consider our communities, our health, and our resources, and declare that bikes belong in all future transportation plans and strategies. With the passage of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), and other legislation enabling and encouraging bicycling facilities, bike advocates and enthusiasts now have an unprecedented opportunity to help make the safe and enjoyable access to rational transportation alternatives a reality. One of the greatest impacts of ISTEA is that it brought the public back to the table in planning the shape and character of transportation systems. What people said was that they wanted more choices; they wanted options other than driving a car. And, bike advocates were quick to make the most of the opportunity to be heard, and to have our concerns addressed. The involvement of cyclists in the long-range planning mandated by ISTEA was one of the most significant achievements in the history of bicycle advocacy. We not only found a place at the table, but found that we could really influence the content and character of these plans. These opportunities continue to exist under TEA-21. The Bicycle Task ForceIn addition to public involvement in long-range planning, cyclists should have a permanent voice working directly with government agencies. An effective advisory committee comprised of local advocates, civil servants and interested citizens is critical to implementing a bicycle plan or program. The Bicycle Task Force represents the interests of bicyclists with the range of public agencies that have a stake in bicycling: public works and transportation, parks and recreation, education and community services, public health and safety. Keep in mind that the Task Force, while representing the needs of the bicycling public, is not a substitute for broader public involvement. The Task Force can ensure that the program is accountable to the public, but it also provides for a systematic method for ongoing citizen input into development of important policies, plans and projects. Public SupportFor the bicycle element of a transportation plan to be implemented, broad public support beyond an advocacy group or committee must be sustained after a plan or program has been adopted. Without this support, it will be hard to convince elected officials to allocate the funds and make the tough policy choices necessary to create a bicycle-friendly environment. The most important way to ensure local support is by insisting on, and participating in, opportunities for public involvement. This will ensure the public stays interested and involved in making sure the plan is implemented, and it will also serve as a constant reminder to decision-makers that there is vocal support in the community for bicycle facilities. We have to continue letting them know that we intend to keep asking for what we want, and we’re not going away until we get it! Chattanooga Bicycle Club and Bike ChattanoogaClubs and advocacy groups are another means of implementing and sustaining a bicycle plan. These groups can generate political support for bicycle projects and programs. It does not take a large organization to be effective. We have learned -- through example and personal experience -- that if a small group of people commit to attend public hearings, write letters, meet with elected officials and serve on the Task Force over the period of one year, we can create a presence that will be seen and heard by local decision-makers. By being "on the radar screen," we can raise awareness levels and change attitudes. Hopefully, the result will be that meeting the needs of bicyclists becomes a routine part of local programs and projects. Let’s get the momentum going again, and revitalize the Chattanooga Bicycle Task Force. We meet on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at City Hall Annex, 11th and Lindsey Sts. Call Chris at 423-757-1534 for more information.
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